Jozef Cleber

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Jozef Cleber (June 2, 1916 - May 12, 1999), also known as Jos Cleber or Jozef van Cleber, is a Dutch composer and conductor. He is best known for orchestrating the Indonesian national anthem Indonesia Raya.

[edit] Background

Cleber was born in Maastricht the son of an organist. He became a musician in the style of Mantovani. He travelled to Indonesia in June 1948 and founded the "Cosmopolitan Orchestra" for Radio Batavia, comprised of 40 musicians of many different nationalities. At that time Cleber arranged many Indonesian songs for orchestra, such as "Di Bawah Sinar Bulan Purnama" and "Rangkaian Melati."

[edit] Orchestration of Indonesia Raya

In 1950, Jusuf Ronodipuro (then the Studio Head of Radio Republik Indonesia), requested Cleber to arrange Indonesia Raya for philharmonic orchestra, to which Cleber then began a preliminary study on the history and actual impression the anthem intended to convey, and concluded that he sensed a Marseillaise impression in Indonesia Raya. Cleber's first arrangement was subsequently recorded in RRI Studio, Central Jakarta, in early 1951, involving Cleber's orchestra and two other RRI orchestras. The initial response to the orchestration was warm and Cleber joined Ronodipuro to present the recording to President Sukarno. However, upon hearing, Sukarno commented that the arrangement is too embellished.

Sukarno wanted Indonesia Raya to be as majestic as the Netherlands' national anthem, Wilhelmus. Wilhelmus has a slow tempo (largo), whereas Indonesia Raya was intended to have marching tempo (Tempo di marcia), which reasoned Cleber's initial disagreement with the President over the orchestration. He began to work on the second arrangement, and the tempo was changed to Maestoso con bravura, ("majestically and with bravura"). Sukarno liked the second arrangement better; however he thought that there should be a part in the anthem that expresses beauty, softness, and sweetness, right prior to climactic refrain.

In the third arrangement, Cleber modified the verses right before the chorus to employ string section, whereas the chorus itself was accompanied with timpani, cymbal, and brass section. Sukarno considered this arrangement as perfect and he approved it.